A study of furcation defects at first permanent molars in African mandibles

This study was undertaken after a personal clinical observation (by AV) that periodontal disease and subsequent attachment loss in the molar root bi-furcation occurs more frequently on the buccal than the lingual aspect of mandibular permanent molars, particularly the first molar.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence and severity of furcation defects on the buccal and lingual aspects of mandibular first molars visually and photographically.

One hundred and six dried human mandibles with neither caries nor restorations on the second premolar or first and second molars were the study sample. Presence and severity of the furcation defects and the position of the mandibular first molar in the mandibular arch were recorded visually. The mandibles were then photographed using a standardized method and the same observations made and compared with those of the visual recording.

There were more furcation defects on the buccal than the lingual aspects. Most first molars were within the arch, followed by buccal then lingual. The lowest prevalence, and severity, of furcation defects was when the first molar was within the mandibular arch.

Mandibular first molar furcation prevalence and severity on the lingual was lower than on the buccal aspect, particularly when the first molar was within the arch suggesting that an "anatomically normal" position of the mandibular first molar may have a protective effect. Another observation was that standardized photographs of the mandible may be used for measurements and provides a convenient data base for research.